Jose Morales, Fentanyl Conspiracy, New York 2024

UTICA, NEW YORK - A major fentanyl trafficking ring was dealt a significant blow yesterday as Jose Morales, 31, of Utica, was sentenced to serve 10 years in federal prison for his role in a major fentanyl conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Carla Freedman.

Morales was one of nine defendants charged in the Rodriguez Drug Trafficking Organization (Rodriguez DTO). He was found guilty of conspiring to distribute fentanyl, distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Between May 2020 and October 2021, Morales acquired quantities of fentanyl from co-conspirators in the Rodriguez DTO and redistributed them to others in the Utica area. During his participation in the conspiracy, the Rodriguez DTO distributed over 400 grams of fentanyl.

Morales was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his sentence, pay a $200 special assessment, and pay a $37,245 money judgment representing proceeds from the distribution of drugs.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation, which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States.

Morales was one of several defendants in the Rodriguez DTO to be sentenced in recent months. Ivan Rodriguez, Sr., the head of the organization, was sentenced to 121 months in prison, while Eric Ares was sentenced to 120 months. Ivan Rodriguez, Jr., Jose Aponte, Angel Calderon Ortiz, Edgar Tejada, and Harry Rodriguez were also sentenced to prison time.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and several local law enforcement agencies.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson prosecuted the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/utica-man-sentenced-his-role-major-fentanyl-conspiracy